Apparatus for manufacturing gas



(No Model.) I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. L. STEWART.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS. No. 333,691. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

3 3 lb g N PETERS. Pholo-Lilhogmphen Washington. D Q

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shet 2. J. L. STEWART.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS. No. 338,691. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

NV PETERS. Phnln-Lilhngnpher, Washinghm u c.

(N o Model.) 5 Shets-Sheet. 3. J. L. STEWART.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS. r v No. 333,691. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

' Vfifnwwm Inwmiar N. PETERS, Phnlc-Lilhagmphur. wash-mm, D. c

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. L. STEWART.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

' No. 833,691. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

N, PETERS Ehulo-Lilhagmphun Wnhinglom u, c.

(No Model.) 5' Sheets-Sheetfi.

J. L. STEWART.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS. No. 333,691. Patented-Jan. 5, 1886.

a %Znesses r ajaz enzoi.

N. PETERS. Pbcmiiihogmpher. Wzuihmglan. 0.0

To a6Z whom it may con n: gas, in which the fixing chamber is omitted Be it known that I, JOHN L. STEWART, a and replaced by an extended steam -boiler citizen of the United States, residing at Philaabove the fuel-chamber. Fig. 9 represents a .delphia, in the county of Philadelphia and longitudinal verticalsection ofamodified form State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain of apparatus.

new and useful Improvements in Apparatus The cupola gas-generator is mounted on a for Manufacturing Gas, of which the following foundation of masonry, and is divided into a is a specification, reference being had therein fuel-chamber, A, at the base, and a fixingto the accompanying drawings. chamber, B, containing a filling of open-work IO This invention relates to apparatus for fire-brick composed of numerous independmanufacturing illuminating and heating gas, ent arches,B, located above the fuel-chamber, of that kind called cupola gas-generators, and above the fixing-chamber is placed the in which steam is decomposed in contact with tubular steam-boiler O, with which is connectincandescent fuel, the resulting gas carbued at the top the steam-drum D. The firereted or enriched with volatile hydrocarbons, brick b, composing the arches B, may be made 6 and the mixed gas and vapor fixed by contact triangular, or nearly so, having the inner with heated refractory material in the fixingsharp end cut ofi', so that they will fit against chamber of the cupola. the central key-brick, b. The bricks are all The improvements inthc apparatusinclude alike formed with passages k, and they are 20 the novel construction and arrangement of the set in the successive arches, so that such pasrefractory brick-work filling of the fixing sages shall all fall in line one above the other chamber, whereby it is made more secure and and form continuous vertical passages through effective, and can be readily cleaned; also, the fixingchamber. By this arrangement the special devices for vaporizing the oil and suppassages in the brick-work may be readily 25 plying the hot vapor' or hot oil under pressure cleaned by strong blasts of air or steam, or in the desired volumeto the generator, as here- .by rods and brushes. Of course the perfoinafter more fully described; also, the waterrated brick forming the arches may be made jacket and steam-boiler as applied to the genof any convenient size and shape and need eratiugcupola;also,certain details ofconstrucnot reach from the circumference to the cen- 30 tion, as will be fully described with reference tral key-brick, as brick of such dimension to the accompanying drawings, and as defined might not be practical in cupolas of large diin the claims. ainetcr. The brick, of whatever size and In the drawings, Figure 1 represents an eleshape, however, may be laid so that the pasvation of the apparatus with parts in section. sages of each successive arch shall register or 5 Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the align with those of the arch below. cupola-generator, with the boiler mounted on The perforated brick arches laid one above top and the water-heater and scrubber partly the other throughout the fixing-chamber, irre in section. Fig. 3 represents aihorizontal secspective of the alignment of the perforations tion through the fixing-chamber of the cupola. or passages, I believe to be novel and a dis- 40 Fig. 4 represents an elevation of the watertinctimprovement upon theform and arrange- 9o heater at right angles to the view in Fig. 2. ment of brick filling heretofore used in the Fig. 5 represents a vertical longitudinal secsuperheating or fixing chamber of cupola gastion of the apparatus, showing modified feagenerators. tures of constr Jot-ion. Fig. 6 represents a Heretofore a brick arch has been construct- 5 horizontal section through the cupola,showing ed at the base of the fixing-chamber, and the the water-circulating grate-bars. Fig. 7 repbrick filling has been piled in checker-work resents a sectional detail of the water-cooled style upon such arch. This construction has grate. Fig. 8 represents a vertical section of proved inefficient and dangerous, as the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. STEWART, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

SPESEPIC'ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,691, dated January 5,1886.

Application filed April 30, 1885.

the apparatus of modified form, adapted more Serial No. 164,050. (No model.)

bottom arch, unable to sustain the mass of lbrick above, has given away, allowing the 50 particularly to the manufacture of heatingloose brick above to fall into the fuel-chamber. By my arrangement of independent arches I overcome this difficulty and make the fixingchamber compact and safe. The arches may be formed several inches apart, and'this arrangement would be desirable where the perforations were not in line, so as to form continuous passages. The shell of the fuel-chamher A and fixing-chamber or superheater B is formed of two iron casings, r1", stayed together by stay-bolts, the inner one, 1", being of smaller diameter than the outer one, so as to form a water-jacket, c, or part-of the steam-boiler between them. In the fuel-chamber the inner casing projects inward, forming offset 1), and below that point forming the inner wall of the fuel-chamber. The iron water jacket or cas' ing without a brick lining is carried up in the fuel-chamber to or above the clinker-line, or above the line up to which clinker forms in a brick-lined furnace. This iron water-jacket being placed next to the fuel where it is most highly heated prevents the adhesion of clinker to the wall, as explained in patents previously granted to me. The fuel-chamber is lined up with firebrick above ofiset p, and the fixingchamberisalsolinedwithfire-brick. Theinner casing, r, is riveted to the lower tube-sheet of boiler O, and the outer casing extends from the base of the cupola to the conical top of the boiler, to which it is riveted. The top is made conical, so that the tubes of the boiler may be more readily cleaned. The fuel-chamber A is provided with grate a, ash-door w, and fueldoor 10. An air-blast pipe, V, from a blower connects with the ash -pit, and an air-blast pipe,V conveys air from the blowerto branch pipes V and V, having valves 12 and v, pipe V connecting with the top ofthe fuel-chamber and pipe V connecting with the top of the superheating and fixingchamher just below the boiler. A steamsupply pipe, S, connects with blast-pipe V, or at any other convenient place near the base of the fuel-chamber. The gas-outlet pipe T leads from chamberY at the top of the boiler, and a passage, 3 formed in 'the top of such chamber, serves for the escape of waste products of combustion, such passage being closed by a cap, X, to which is attached an operating-lever, x, pivotally connected to standard 00. A man-hole and cover, I), are provided at the top of the fixing-chamber. Gastakeoffpipe T in the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 connects directly with the top of water-heater G,which is provided with tubes for the passage of hot products, and has a smoke-escape pipe, W, leading from its lower end and extending up outside to the top of the heater, as shown in Fig. 4. The heater has at the topan opening, 9, and a stopper or safety-valve, e, and the smoke-pipe has at the top a stopper, 6. The heater i, is mounted on the water-seal box'H, which also serves as a washer, and such box has a plate, d, extending from the opening of the heater down below the water-line, so that the gas is caused to traverse through the water.

A scrubber, L, is mounted on the box, and is in open communication therewith at the bott0m,and has at the t p an outlet-pipe, m. It may also have a water-spray pipe or rosehead. A furnace. E, for the oil vaporizer or still is placed adjacent to the cupola, and in such furnace is set the still F, having a vapordome, f. A vapor-pipe, f, havingavalve, it, connects with pipe h, leading through blastpipe V into the top of the fuel-chamber. The inner end of pipe V is perforated for the purpose of better distributing thehot oil or vapor supplied by pipe h. An escape-vapor pipe, k, connects with pipef and leads to a condensing-worm, N, which has a discharge-pipe at the lower end leading into a storingtank. Pipe is provided with a safety-valve and weighted lever, Z. A pipe, i, having valve t,

passes down through the dome to near the bottom of the still,and also connects with pipe h, and is for the purpose of discharging the heavy oils which accumulate in the bottom of the still, or for supplying hot oil to the generator by means of the pressure of vapor in the top of the still when valven of the vaporpipe is closed, or even when it is part open, provided the pressure of vapor in the still is sufficient. An ordinary steam-boiler. adapted to stand a high pressure, may be used for the still, and it is to be heated by a fire on the grate or by coils of steam-pipe placed within it. An excessive pressure of vapor in the still is relieved by means of pipe k and condenser N, the pressure of vapor operating to open the safety-valve,and thus permit the vapor to escape into the condenser, where it is reduced to a liquid condition and allowed to flow to a storage-tank, from which it may again be supplied to the still. Openings t are provided in the walls of the fuel chamber at difierent points in the circumference and height for the insertion of clinkering-bars to break and stir up the fuel when bituminous coal is being used in the generator or to detach clinker. These openings are to be closed by tight-fittin g caps or plugs.

The cupola generator for carrying out certain operations should be provided with two gas-eduction pipes, one at the top, as abovedescribed, and one at the bottom connecting with the ash-pit, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8. The pipe T at the top should preferably connect by a short dip-pipe with the hydraulic seal-box U,and pipe T, projecting up through the bottom .of such box and above the waterline therein, connects with chamber G at the top of heater G. A conical valve having annular cup to and a rod, u, passing through a stuflingbox, as shown, is provided for closing the lower end of pipe T in seal-boX U. Pipe I, leading from the ash-pit, connects by a dippipe with seal-box U, and such pipe is closed by the valve and cup 1), having rod 12 passing through a stuffing-box in the upper side of the pipe. Pipe 1 connects box U with the lower chamber, G, of heater G. Pipe M, having valve m, connects chamber G with the base of the scrubber where the end is turned down to dip into a water-seal. Pipe M connects the top chamber, G, with pipe M, and is provided with a controlling-valve, m, as shown. An overflow-trap pipe, connects with the base of the scrubber and with the seal box H, and the seal-box is also provided with a man-hole closed by a cap or plate. rose-head Z supplies water to the top of the scrubber. Water is forced bya pump to the base of the heater through pipe 9, and flows by pipes 0 and 0 into the water-space c of the generator, and thence up into the boiler O. A pipe, 0", connecting with pipes 0 and 0, leads to the top of the boiler for conducting away air or steam from the waterheater G, and thereby provides for the unobstructed and uniform flow of water through the heater and into the base of the water-jacket surrounding the generator. The grate a is preferably composed of hollow bars, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, connecting with the water-space c of the jacket, so that water will circulate through them, and the outer casing, r, of the shell is provided with openings and screw-plugs a, adjacent to the ends of the bars, for affording access to place the bars in position in the same manner as the tubes of. a boiler are set, or to permit cleaning or tightening of the tubular bars, as required. Adead-plat-e, e, is placed adjacent to the door w alongside of the bars, and another dead-plate, e, is placed at the rear between thebars and furnace-walls. A steam-pipe (not shown in Fig. 5) connects with blast-pipe V, leading into the ash-pit below the grate, and steam-pipe S connects with chamber Y above the fixing or superheating chamber B.

The generator shown in Fig. 8 is composed simply of a fuel and generating chamber, A, a steam-boiler, O, and the water-jacket, and is more particularly adapted for making watergas. The fixing -chamber of brick work is omitted to simplify the construction and lessen the expense, as the oil-vapor may be converted into a fixed gas in the fuel when its heat is sufficiently reduced, as hereinafter explained. The heat, which, in the other forms of generator is stored in the brick-work, is

.inthis form applied to the steamboiler, and

a proportionally higher steam-boiler is used, so that the heat of the products of combustion and of the water-gas may be properly utilized. The connections of this generator with the water-heater G at top and bottom are like those shown in Fig. 5. A steam-pipe, S, connects with the ash-pit, and steam-pipe S connects with the top of the fuelchamber,

both connecting by a pipe with steam-drum D. A partition, :10, is placed in seal-box U, to prevent water coming in contact with pipe T,and thereby cooling it, so that hot gaseous products may pass at a higher temperature into heater G. The stem of lower conevalve, 1), is hollow, and perforated atits junc- A spray-pipe with tion with the apex of the valve, and in prac-' tice is connected at its outer end with a flexible pipe for supplying steam or water, whereby the valve-stem is protected from overheating when making fuel or water-gas, which is passed off directly from the fuel through eductionpipe I. The upper valve-stem requires no special means for cooling, since the gaseous products are cooled by passing through the boiler. The cone-valve fits the end of the dip-pipe by a ground joint, and the annular cup containing water forms when it is raised a fluid seal'joint and also cools the end of the pipe.

For a still more economical form of apparatus than that shown in Fig. 8, the heater G may be dispensed with and the top chamber of boiler 0 connected directly by a pipe, T,. having an expansion joint with the base of the scrubber. so as to form a dip-pipe and fluid seal. The gas in such constructiomalterpass ing through the scrubber, may pass through a lime-water wash-box of any well-known construction. As such generator has no eduction pipe at the bottom, the oil-vapor should be admitted into the. lower part of the fuel after it has been reduced by decomposing steam to the proper temperature, and is passed. up through the fuel for conversion into a fixed gas, as more fully hereinafter explained. In the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 9 the fuelchamber A may be made square or rectangular in crosssection, .and the tubular steam,- boiler O is arranged horizontally,whereby the tubes may be more readily cleaned. The steam and oil-vapor pipe 72. connects with the lower portion of the fuel-chamber abovethe; grate-bars, and a separate steam-pipe, S, connects below the grate-bars, whereby heatinggas and illuminating-gas maybe generated in the same body of fuel, as hereinafter more fully explained.

The operation of the apparatus represented in Figs. 1 and 2 is as follows: A fire is kin died in chamber A and supplied with fuel, and the air-blast is admitted through pipe V; till a bed ofincandescent fuel several feet thick is formed. As soon as combustible gas escapes from the fuel the air-blast is admitted through pipe V and the gas burned for heating up the fixingchamber and the steam-boiler above. The hot products pass through the fiues of the boiler, and finally escape through pipe T, down through the tubes of heater G, and out through smoke-escape pipe W, the cap 6 being at that'tiine removed, or out through passage 3/, cap X being removed. Vhile the generating-cupola is being heated up the oil-still, which has been about half filled with oil, is also heated up, and vapor generated is allowed to accumulate under pressure, so that a suitably-large volume of oil-vapor will be held in readiness to carburet to the desired candlepower the large volume of water-gas, which is rapidly generated when steam is first admitted to the incandescent fuel. Petroleum,

ICO

- ing been heated to the desired temperature,

' por are combined and fixed by passage through therewith, in which case valve 01 in the vaporwalve m in pipe M is open, and the fixed il- M into the base of the scrubber, and after benzine, or heavy hydrocarbon oils may be used in the still. The fuel in the generator and the brick-work in the fixing-chamber havand asuitable volume of oil-vapor having been accumulated in the still under pressure, the air-blasts are shut off, and passage 3 by cap X or passage W by cap 6 are closed, and steam admitted through pipe S to the base of the fuel, by contact with which it is rapidly decomposed and large volumes of hydrogen and carbonic oxide produced. As these gases rise from the fuel the hot oil-vapor is admitted by opening valve 91 and caused to mingle with and properly carburet them, and the gases and vathe heated fixing-chamber. The hotilluminating-gas passes through the tubular boiler, assisting in raising steam,and fiows through pipe T into the water-heater G, through" the tubes of which it passes for heating the water, and then passes through the wash-box and scrubber, where it is washed and purified. The manufacture of gas is thus continued till the temperature of the fuel and of the fixingchamber is reduced too low, when the steam and oil are shut off and the apparatus reheated by the admission of the air-blasts in the usual manner. After heating up the manufaeture of gas is resumed as above described. Hot oil may be used for carbureting the gas by opening valve 71 in pipe 6, the pressure of vapor in the top of the still serving to force the oil up through pipe 1' into pipe h, where it is metby a stream of vapor from pipe f. and thereby vaporized and forced into the generator. The hot oil may also be forced into the generator without the admixture of vapor pipe is kept closed; or the oil-still may be elevated, so the hot oil will flow into the generator by gravity.

The operation of making illuminating-gas in the apparatus shown in Fig. 5 is substantially the same as that above described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, and the manipulation of the valves need only be described. While decomposing steam is admitted below the grate, and admitting oil-vapor at the base of the fixing-chamber the lower cone-valve is closed, upper cone-valve, u, is opened, and

luminating-gas passes down through the tubes of the water heater, and thence through pipe passing through the scrubber goes to the purifiers and holder.

In the manufacture of water-gas simply for use as fuelthe steam is admitted into chamber Y at the top of the superheater, and is passed the grate through pipe 1, cone-valve 1) being open, through pipe i into the base of the wai ter-heater.

Valve m is closed and valve m .l

opened, so that the gas is compelled to pass up the tubes of the heater and down pipe M into the base of the scrubber. V

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 8 steam may be decomposed by passage either up or down through the fuel. The uncarbureted water-gas is to be passed to a separate holder.

By connecting the oil-vapor pipe near the bottom of the fuel-chamber in the apparatus shown in Fig. 9 I can conveniently make by successive operations both water-gas and hydrocarbon gas in the same body of fuel, and the two kinds of gas may be mixed in the same holder, or may be stored separately, as desired. For this purpose the fuel is first raised to incandescence. Steam is then decomposed by passage up through the incandescent fuel, and the resulting water-gas is passed off through the boiler to the scrubber and holder. The decomposition of steam is continued ten minutes (more or less) till the fuel is reduced to the proper temperature for generating hydrocarbon gas without danger of carbonizing and wasting the oil or oil-vapor. Then the steam is shut off, or nearly so, and oilvapor is admitted as long as it will be properly converted into a fixed gas, and the gas is conducted to the holder containing water-gas or to a separate holder. The two kinds of gas may be drawn from separate holders and mixed in suitable proportions by a mixing-meter.

The oil may be sprayed into the fuel-chamher by a jet of steam or a jetof water-gas under pressure.

A generator composed simply of the fuelchamber and the boiler, and having connecting-pipes for steam and oil, as described, and operated as last described, is adapted for generating heating or illuminating gas for factories or small towns on an economical scale.

Bituminous coal may be used in the fuelchamber of any of the forms of apparatus shown, and the masses of caked coal or coke formed can be conveniently broken up by bars inserted through the stoke-holes it.

By carrying the water-jacket up the whole height of the cupola and placing the communicating boiler on top, covered by suitable nonconducting material, as usual, the heat is better utilized and loss by radiation prevented. The apparatus is made more compact and convenient and can be more economically constructed and operated.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A gas-generating cupola having a fuel and steam decomposing chamber and a fixingchamber, in combination with an oil still orcupola-furnace having a fuel-chamber and a fixing-chamber, of an oil still or vaporizer provided with means for heating it and storing vapor under pressure, and a valved vaporpipe connecting such still with the cupola generator, for the purpose described.

3. In combination with a cupola generator, the separate oil still or vaporizer, means for heating it, a vapor-pipe leading from the top of the dome, an oil-pipe leading from near the bottom of the still, and a pipe connecting both of such pipes with the generating-cupola, for the purpose described.

4. In combination with the generating-cupola, the separate oil-still, valved pipes connecting them adapted to admit the hot oil or vapor to the generator, and a vent-pipe provided with a safety-valve connected with the still and a condenser, for the purpose described.

5. In combination with a gas-generating furnace, a water-jacket surrounding it, and a tubular steamboiler mounted on top of the furnace and water-jacket and freely communicating with the latter, for the purpose described.

6. The gasgenerating cupola having a fuelchamber at the base and a fixing-chamber above, in combination with a water-jacket surrounding them both, and a steamboiler mounted above the fixing-chaniber and waterjacket and freely communicating with such jacket, for the purpose described.

7. In combination with a gas-generating chamber, a fixing-chamber having a filling of brick formed of perforated arches, for the p ur pose described.

8. In combination with a gasgenerating chamber, a fixing-chamber provided with brick arches placed one above the other and having perforations or passages falling in vertical lines in the successive arches, whereby numerous vertical passages are formed from bottom to top of the fixingchamber, for the purpose described.

9. A fixingchamber for gas generators formed of perforated brick laid in arches one above the other, so as to form vertical passages through the chamber, for the purpose described.

10. In combination with a gas-generating furnace, the Water-jacket forming a portion of the walls thereof, and, the tubular bars a, connecting opposite portions of such jacket near its base and forming the grate, for the purpose described.

11. In combination with a gas-generating furnace, the water-jacket having in its outer casing near the base series of openings and screwplugs, and the tubular grate-bars a, connecting opposite portions of such jacket and having their ends adjacent to the said openings and plugs, for the purpose described.

12. The generating-furnace having a waterjacket and a steam boiler, in combination with a water-heater having a water-supply pipe, a pipe connecting the heater with the water-jacket, and an air-escape pipe connecting the heater with the upper part of the boiler, for the purpose described.

13. The generator connected at top and bottom to the water-heater by pipes having interposed hydraulic boxes into which the pipes from the generator dip, in combination with the cone and cup valves connected to close the ends of such dip-pipes.

14. In combination with the hydraulic sealboX, the outlet-pipe of the generator projecting down into such box, anda cone-valve hav ing an annular cup adapted to close the end of the projecting pipe and having an operating-rod.

15. The generator and the water-heater c0nnect-ed together at top and bottom by valved pipes, in combination with the scrubber, pipe M, having a valve connecting the base of the heater with the base of the scrubber, and having its end bent down in the scrubber to dip into a sealing-liquid, and pipe M, having a valve connecting the top of the heater with pipe M, for the purpose described.

16. The cupola gas-generator having the fuel-chamber at the base, the fixing-chamber above, and the steam-boiler at the top, in combination with blast-pipe V, connecting with the ash-pit, blast-pipe V, connecting with the top of the fuel-chamber, and blast-pipe V connecting with chamber Y, between the fixingchamber and boiler, for the purpose described.

17. In combination with the cupola, the airblast pipe V, having its inner end perforated, and the oil-pipe h, projecting into the blastpipe and discharging near the perforated end thereof, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. STEAVART.

Vitnesses:

H. F. REARDON, O. DUBREE. 

